A North Fort Myers teen accused in the murder of 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller more than two years ago frequently looked back at the gallery as his trial began.
Thomas Stein, 17, faces charges of first-degree murder and attempted armed robbery. His trial, which began April 27 with jury selection, is expected to last through May 1.
Stein, who since his arrest has remained in custody and has appeared in court wearing his Lee County Jail jumpsuit, for the first time on April 27 walked into the courtroom dressed in a black suit and tie.
He looked back at the gallery looking for family and friends sitting off to the left but did not wave or smile, opposed to past court hearings.
Off to the right, Rincon-Miller’s mother, Luz Rincon, sat with a group of her relatives. She gasped and wiped tears more than once, at one point having to briefly leave the courtroom accompanied by a victim’s advocate from the State Attorney’s Office.
Assistant State Attorney Sara Miller, who is prosecuting the case along with Assistant State Attorney Alyssa Wolf, said he did not reach a plea agreement ahead of the trial.
Miller said the defense attempted to offer a plea, but the state rejected it, citing low standards. She later said she could speak to defense “to see where they’re at” and asked for 10 minutes.
After the brief recess, Miller said they did not reach an agreement.
Stein is not expected to have witnesses testify on his behalf.
Twelve jurors and two alternates will make up the jury. The attorneys began screening 50 potential jurors. If they don’t seat a jury Monday, selection will continue Tuesday followed by opening statements.
The other teen arrested in the case, Christopher Horne Jr., 17, of Cape Coral, on Sept. 19, 2025, pleaded no contest to second-degree murder in the death of Rincon-Miller.
Prosecutors and Stein’s attorneys collected Horne’s testimony during an April 2 deposition, according to court filings. His sentence will depend on the honesty of his testimony, but it is expected to be 25 years in prison and is set for May 19.
While police reports have stated Stein was not the shooter, Miller on April 27 said in court that as part of Stein’s guilt, jurors will have to determine if the accused teen fired a weapon that spring break night in March 2024.
How did SW Florida authorities connect the teens to the murder?
Cape Coral Police arrested the younger Horne weeks after they arrested Stein in Rincon-Miller’s March 17, 2024, death.
A grand jury indicted each suspect on one count of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted robbery, both including the use of a firearm.
A detailed Cape Coral Police report also indicates Stein was not the shooter and says a third suspect accompanied Horne and Stein.
Police have not released information on a third suspect and court documents have not reversed authorities’ theory as Stein’s and Horne’s cases moved through the courts.
Rincon-Miller was walking with two friends from the movie theater at 2323 Del Prado Blvd. S., to a nearby McDonald’s.
As they approached Southeast 20th Street, court documents say, a “fancy” silver SUV blinded them with the high beams and several males exited the SUV.
Two of them waved firearms and demanded the girls give them their bags, police said. One of Rincon-Miller’s two friends told authorities she heard three gunshots and realized Rincon-Miller had been shot.
One of Rincon-Miller’s friends is expected to testify accompanied by a support kitten.
Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@usatodayco.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez.
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Jury selection begins for teen accused of killing Cape Coral teen
Reporting by Tomas Rodriguez, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
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